Educational device



Feb. 26, 1924.

' T. C. KITE EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed Nov. 13

2 Sheets-Sheet I Feb. 26 1924. I

T. C. KITE EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed Nov. 3, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .v' llllll zlwoentw 777012155 C Kz'ze I I @1 W I Patented Feb, 25, 1924.

stat? THOMAS C. KI'IE, OF SHENAINDOAH, VIRGINIA.

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE.

Application filed November 13, 1922. Serial No. 600,602.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. Krrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shenandoah, in the county of Page and .State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Educational Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to educational devices and more particularly to a device for approximating and illustrating the movement of the earth about the sun.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character whereby a mechanical imitation of the movement is provided, the position of the earths axis of the sphere representing the earth being altered in substantially the manner of alteration of the axis of the earth during its passage around the sun.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanism whereby the above results can be obtained and which may be cheaply and readily produced.

These and other objects I attain by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the manner of constructing the same;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section showing the manner of mounting the gear operated driving sleeve Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral designates a suitable base having extending upwardly therefrom and secured thereto a vertical shaft 11. Surrounding this shaft is a sleeve 12 having secured to its lower end a worm gear 13 which may be driven from a suitable worm 1st actuated from any suitable source of power, as motor M connected to the shaft ll of the worm 14. Above the worm gear 13 a second gear 15 surrounds the shaft and is supported by sleeves 16 resting upon the upper surface of the gear 13. The gear 15 is in the form of a disk having gear teeth formed upon opposite side faces thereof, the teeth at one side face being engaged by a drive gear'l7 and those upon the other face being engaged by a driven gear 18, the drive gear 17 having a drive shaft 19 likewise connected with the motor M. The ratio of the drives 1? and 19 are so proportioned that the drive gear 17 is driven at such speed by its drive shaft 19 that the speed ratio of the shaft 20 to which the driven gear 18 is secured to the speed of rotation of the sleeve 12 is 365 to 1.

To the upper end of the sleeve 12 is secured a horizontally extending arm 21, this arm being held against rotation with relation to the sleeve by means of a clamping set screw 22 extending through a yoke strap 23 passed about the sleeve 12. The upper extremity of the shaft 11 extends above the upper surface of the arm 21 and has secured thereto a horizontal disk 24:, the surface of which is divided into twelve equal segments each representing a month of the year. The arm 21 has secured thereto a support 25 from which extends upwardly an indicating finger 26 terminating in a pointer 27 overlying the dial for coaction with the segments thereof.

The support 25 is provided with portions depending below the arm 21 and forming a brace or support for a housing of the shaft 20 of the driven gear 18 which shaft is flexible. The end of this shaft or the housing in which the shaft is mounted is supported verticallyupon the free end of the arm 21, as indicated at 29, and the projecting end of V the shaft 20 has formed thereon one member of a universal joint 30. The opposite end member of the universal joint is connected with a shaft 31, to the upperend of which is secured a globe 32 representing the earth and which may be, if desired, provided with a map, not herein disclosed. From the disk 24 at one side of the center thereof a shaft 33 extends upwardly at an angle of 23 to the vertical or the approximate degree of inclination of the earths axis. The inclination of the shaft 21 is such that the shaft passes over the center of the disk and about this shaft is rotatably disposed a sleeve 34:. To this sleeve over the center of the disk one end of a link 35 is connected, the connection being through medium of a pair of arms 36 spaced apart a distance equal to the outside diameter of the sleeve and having broad fiat faces engaging against the sides of the sleeve. Through the central portion of these arms pins 37 are directed engaging in the sleeve. The free end of the link 35 is provided with a sleeve 38 pivotally connected thereto bya pivot 39 paralleling the pins 37 and this sleeve rotatably receives the shaft 31 and is held against longitudinal movement with rela tion thereto by means of stop shoulders 20. The upper extremity of the stationary shaft 33 is provided with a suitable bracket 41, the end of which has secured thereto a sphere l2 representing the sun and approximately vertically aligned as regards its vertical axis with the shaft 11.

In the operation of my device, the power shafts 1a and 19 being driven, the arm 21 rotates about the shaft 11 as an axis carrying with itthe sphere 32. By reason of the link connection with the inclined shaft 33, the shaft 31 hearing the sphere 32 is always maintained at an approximate angle of 23? so that the position of the earth with respect to the sun at any time during the various months of the year may be determined. At the same time the rotation of the sphere 32 through the driven gear 18 and its shaft and connections causes this sphere to rotate 365 times during each complete revolution of the arm 21 about the shaft 11, each revolution representing a day of the ear.

While I have above described the disk 24: as divided into twelve equal segments, it will, of course, be understood that these segments will not in fact be exactly equal but only substantially so, each segment being of a size corresponding to the number of days contained therein. With the arm 21 at any given point, the time of the year may be readily ascertained and accordingly the position of the earths axis with relation to the sun may likewise be ascertained. Furthermore, the reason for the change in seasons will be rendered obvious and likewise such facts as the equal length of days at different seasons of the year and the reason for the change in the length of the days be readily demonstrated. l/Vhile I have above described the particular manner of constructing my educational apparatus, it will, of course, be understood that the construction of the same is capable of some change and modification and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure as hereinbefore set forth, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In an educational appliance for demonstrating the movement of the earth about the sun, a vertical shaft having an angular extension, a horizontal arm associated with the shaft, a sphere carried by the outer end of the arm, means for rotating the arm about the shaft, means for maintaining the axis of the sphere parallel to the angular extension of the shaft, and a sun sphere having its axis fixed as regards the axis of the vertical shaft, and means for rotating the sphere upon the arm, said means for maintaining the axis of the sphere parallel to said angular extension including an axis shaft upon which the sphere is supported, sleeves surroundiz-ig the axis shaft and inclined stationary shaft and a link connection between the sleeves maintaining the sleeves parallel.

2. In an educational appliance for demonstrating the movement of the earth about the sun, a vertical shaft having an angular xtension, a sun sphere fixed at the upper end of the angular extension and axially concentric with the vertical shaft, a sleeve surrounding the vertical shaft, a second sleeve surrounding the horizontal extension thereof, means for rotating the sleeve surrounding the shaft, an arm secured to said sleeve, a shaft un'versally mounted at its lower end upon the outer end of said arm, a sleeve surrounding the last named shaft, a link connecting the sleeve of the last named shaft and the sleeve of said extension, a sphere carried by the upper end of the last named shaft, and means for rotating the last named shaft during the rotation of the arm.

3. In an educational appliance for demonstrating the movement of the earth about the sun, a vertical shaft having an angular extension, a sun sphere fixed at the upper end of the angular extension and axially concentric with the vertical shaft, a sleeve surrounding the vertical shaft, a second sleeve surrounding the horizontal extension thereof, means for rotating the sleeve surrounding the shaft, an arm secured to said sleeve, a shaft universally mounted at its lower end upon the outer end of said arm, a sleeve surrounding the last named shaft, a link connecting the sleeve of the last named shaft and the sleeve of said extension, a sphere carried by the upper end of the last named shaft, means for rotating the last named shaft during the rotation of the arm including a second sleeve surrounding the sleeve of the vertical shaft and provided with a gear, means for rotating said sleeve, and a driving connection between said gear and the universal mounting of said shaft.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature.

THOMAS C. KI'lE. 

